The sofa and dining table were in complete disarray.
The room was thick with that unmistakable tension that lingers after an intimate encounter.
Startled, I accidentally knocked over a vase, which shattered with a sharp crack.
Theron hurried out of the bedroom. When he saw me, his face immediately tightened with nervousness.
"Honey, why are you back so soon?"
"I forgot the gifts I prepared in the bedroom. I’ll grab them now. Will this delay your work?"
I headed straight for the bedroom. With every step I took closer, Theron’s expression grew darker.
"Where did you put them? I’ll help you find them."
Just as my hand reached for the door handle, Theron stopped me with a forced smile.
"There’s too much stuff in there. I can’t remember where. You go ahead. I’ll find them later."
I insisted, pressing harder on the handle, but his grip on my hand tightened painfully.
"Honey, did I hurt you? Why are you so nervous? I’m only going into the bedroom to get something, not to catch someone cheating. Do you have another woman hiding in there?"
"No, no, it’s not that…"
Click!
The door unlocked from the inside.
Celina appeared in front of me, smiling. "You must be Mrs. Ashvale. I’m Celina Lark, Mr. Ashvale’s coworker. It’s nice to meet you."
Though Celina quickly dressed during the brief time Theron bought her, fresh kiss marks still stained her neck.
I swallowed my anger and extended my hand. "Miss Lark is very dedicated. It’s early morning, yet she’s working late for a meeting with Theron."
I paused, then said, "Theron, look at these sweet love marks on Miss Lark’s neck."
Theron’s face went pale. He opened his mouth but stammered out with no explanation.
"Why are you so nervous? Those aren’t really yours, are they?"
I fixed him with a steady gaze, noting his shifting eyes and laughed softly, "Dear, I’m just teasing. We’ve been married ten years. I trust you."
Celina sighed in relief and quickly covered the marks. "I’m sorry. I rushed this morning to meet Mr. Ashvale for work and didn’t have time to cover them with foundation. I hope I didn’t cause any misunderstanding."
I took Theron’s hand and pressed my body deliberately closer to him, watching Celina’s sudden stiffening.
"I’m sorry to interrupt your work, Theron and Miss Lark. I have a date to get to. Once I grab my things, you two can continue."
Celina moved aside quickly and kindly closed the bedroom door behind me.
I pulled out the disposable gloves I had prepared earlier and began searching through the trash.
"Baby, did you find it? Need some help?"
Before I could answer, there was a knock on the door and Theron pushed it open.
"Found it."
I stepped out, holding the gift I had prepared.
"But Theron, you really should dress more formally when it comes to work."
I plucked a stray chestnut hair off his pajama shirt.
I laughed softly. "This hair color is awfully close to Miss Lark’s."
His pupils suddenly shrank and his breath caught, almost stopping.
I gathered my long hair and tossed it into the trash.
"Good thing I met you in person, Miss Lark. Otherwise, Theron would have some explaining to do about where this hair came from."
Seeing I’d smoothly changed the subject, Theron forced a bitter smile.
"I’ll listen to my wife. Next time, I’ll dress properly."
To make sure I would not change my mind, he personally saw me to the car and instructed the driver to take me straight to Jinye.
Along the way, the driver glanced at me with a look full of sympathy.
I ignored it and handed the condom and two strands of hair I found in the trash to the driver.
Once everything was settled, I dialed a number. “Ambervile Mansion unit 803, right? I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
